New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers Week Four Recap

The New Orleans Saints came into Sunday 0-2, the way they've started the season the previous three years. This wasn't going to be an easy road, divisional match-up against the Carolina Panthers.

However, in this game every faze of the Saints team was on point today. The defense forced their first turnover of the season, in fact three of them in this game, and those turnovers help set up the offense. The Saints take out the Panthers 34-13.

Drew Brees was extremely efficient, completing 22 of 29 passes for 220 yards to go along with three scores, and no interceptions himself. The running game got going as well, Mark Ingram led the way, Adrian Peterson was tough to take down, and Alvin Kamara was able to find pay-dirt for his first career touchdown.

Brees was also able to spread the wealth around as he connected with 9 different receivers and it was scoring catches for Michael Thomas, Ted Ginn Jr., and Brandon Coleman.

The panthers came into this season at 2-0 but neither of their victories were completely convincing, Cam Newton has been wildly inconsistent, and there was no Greg Olsen in this one.

In addition to Olsen being out, top wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin left due to injury in the first half and that left play-making options limited for Newton as he struggled to find any kind of a rhythm.

The Saints defense was a big part of making the Panthers quarterback uncomfortable as they constantly pressured him, a big play came early in this one with Cameron Jordan sacking Newton to stall a drive. In fact, the Saints accumulated four sacks, five QB hits, six passes defended, and the three big interceptions.

The three interceptions were a very welcomed sight for a defense missing its top defensive back this afternoon in Marshon Lattimore, the two Williams' each had one. In addition, the struggling defensive back Kenny Vaccaro was able to make a couple plays and drive on a ball in the middle of the field with beautiful vision.

So, the New Orleans Saints gain their first victory of the season and kick off divisional play with a bang. The Saints will now head across the pond to London for a week 4 match-up with the Miami Dolphins.